Team Ineos (Formerly the Sky thread)

[Dazed and Confused]

Steve Cummings is riding solidly for BMC also. He even managed to hold off Cameron Meyer in his Vuelta stage win in a drag race last year.

Cummings CQ value history:

Cav:

Gerrans:

LÖFKVIST:

Not sure if anything can be deducted out of these. Cav is a star rider (before and after Sky), Lofkvist's career has stalled, Cummings is a typical support rider and Gerrans appear to have had a very good year in '12.

 

[xcleigh]

The racing in this year's edition has been markedly different from any edition in say the last eight years.

Sorry but could you expand as to how the racing is different different? More controlled, less controlled, big groups at the finish, little groups etc etc. I haven't seen any of the previous editions so can only go on looking at the historical time gaps which as I say don't seem much different this year to previous.

Will be interesting to see the TT result for sure, Tony Martin looking good so far.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Looks like Sky aren't doping after all.

 

[the sceptic]

yes, really bad to only get 2 and 3 overall with the B squad

 

[The Hitch]

He's the favorite. He hasn't won it yet. Why can't people show a little patience and wait for the win to actually go down.

Do you really believe that Porte will not win the TT?

Just you wait untill tomorrow

Still waiting.

 

[wwabbit]

yes, really bad to only get 2 and 3 overall with the B squad

B riders in 1st and 4th position too, with AC in 5th. Obviously the top 4 must be doping

 

[Le Baroudeur]

I maintain that Saxo will be ready for the Tour. Hernandez and Majka were terrible last season before they got their Bertie back, then they climbed like demons. Riis will have a plan, he always does.

Majka has a serious knee injury/operation to recover from. Hence missing the Giro which he was suposed to captain, an injury that flared up again this year again ruling him out of his Giro role... Nothing to do with Alberto. Jesus is Alberto's budy so no doubt is motivated to ride for him.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Cummings CQ value history:

Cav:

Gerrans:

LÖFKVIST:

Not sure if anything can be deducted out of these. Cav is a star rider (before and after Sky), Lofkvist's career has stalled, Cummings is a typical support rider and Gerrans appear to have had a very good year in '12.

I'd watch a race with that parcours, even if the stage into Löfkvist is a bit of an ASO special.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I'd watch a race with that parcours, even if the stage into Löfkvist is a bit of an ASO special.

the question is: IAM important enough to do a special Lofkvist parcours?

Another brokerage account for Hein?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

the question is: IAM important enough to do a special Lofkvist parcours?

Another brokerage account for Hein?

The MTF at Gerrans looks pretty challenging, and though the altitude is much lower I suspect that the hilly stage into Cummings could be interesting as well. The Cav stage doesn't look like much but the altitude increase is likely to have an effect on the péloton for sure and the bunch should be pretty well thinned out by the finish.

 

[ChewbaccaD]

Cummings CQ value history:

Cav:

Gerrans:

LÖFKVIST:

Not sure if anything can be deducted out of these. Cav is a star rider (before and after Sky), Lofkvist's career has stalled, Cummings is a typical support rider and Gerrans appear to have had a very good year in '12.

I'd watch a race with that parcours, even if the stage into Löfkvist is a bit of an ASO special.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a lesson in how to post.

 

[JimmyFingers]

The MTF at Gerrans looks pretty challenging, and though the altitude is much lower I suspect that the hilly stage into Cummings could be interesting as well. The Cav stage doesn't look like much but the altitude increase is likely to have an effect on the péloton for sure and the bunch should be pretty well thinned out by the finish.

oo-err missus

 

[Knutsen]

The Cav stage doesn't look like much but the altitude increase is likely to have an effect on the péloton for sure and the bunch should be pretty well thinned out by the finish.

..and with Cavs seemingly better climbing abilities this year, he could be there himself at the finish!

 

[hiero2]

Cummings CQ value history:
. . .

Not sure if anything can be deducted out of these. Cav is a star rider (before and after Sky), Lofkvist's career has stalled, Cummings is a typical support rider and Gerrans appear to have had a very good year in '12.

What the heck is CQ?

 

[Dear Wiggo]

What the heck is CQ?

http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/start.asp

 

[Netserk]

What the heck is CQ?

You don't know

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Sky's cobbled classics campaign was a big failure though. More influence of luck? (thomas crashing everywhere, Stannard getting ill) Or do the methods somehow not work on short intense efforts?

 

[Netserk]

Or maybe the magic beans aren't for the whole team?

 

[thehog]

Sky's cobbled classics campaign was a big failure though. More influence of luck? (thomas crashing everywhere, Stannard getting ill) Or do the methods somehow not work on short intense efforts?

Probably telling everyone Thomas would win! Lol!

Next year. Send them to Belgium not Tenerife.

 

[Parrulo]

or maybe just maybe doping doesn't improve the way you ride on cobbles

 

[Ferminal]

It probably puts Kerrison in the clear.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Might try the Vanmarcke approach. Fall early on and do swimming as training

 

[martinvickers]

Sky's cobbled classics campaign was a big failure though. More influence of luck? (thomas crashing everywhere, Stannard getting ill) Or do the methods somehow not work on short intense efforts?

Thomas has crashed now in four successive monuments by my count. That says something, i think...

 

[Lanark]

A complete failure in the important races. But you have to keep in mind that Thomas, Stannard and Boasson Hagen, despite the immense amount of hype they get, are hardly the stars of cobbled races. They aren't even of the level of a Langeveld, let alone the level of a Ballan or Pozzato, and it's pointless to even bring up Cancellara or Boonen. Even in a good day those Sky guys could just finish in the top-10.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

A complete failure in the important races. But you have to keep in mind that Thomas, Stannard and Boasson Hagen, despite the immense amount of hype they get, are hardly the stars of cobbled races. They aren't even of the level of a Langeveld, let alone the level of a Ballan or Pozzato, and it's pointless to even bring up Cancellara or Boonen. Even in a good day those Sky guys could just finish in the top-10.

If they're smart they'll try someone young who showed actual potential in these classics like Gaudin today, or on a lower level Sinkeldam